Charles ii



1 rmnfei-rn.' 14, lass.;

L we. BM ,-A HG C.

(Application med July 1e, 199e.)

Z'Sheetsv-rSheet I-.

(No Model.)A

` Patented Feb; l'4, |899.4 c. H. Bowls.

GAME.

(Application med July 16, 189e.)

(No Model.)

TN: Nonms PETERS co. Pnoramrqkm wwmorow n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES II. BOWIE, OF LISBON FALLS, MAINE.

GAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent NO. 619,663, dated February 14, 1899. Application tiled July 16, 1898. `Serial No. 686,111. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. BOWIE, of Lisbon Falls, county of Andro'scoggin, State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in Games, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention is a game apparatus intended as a means of diversion, while at the same time developing skill and judgment in the players.

My invention belongs to that class of games in which a board containing obstructions and pitfalls is used in connection with balls driven by cues. Various gam es of this general character have been devised, some of which have been more or less successful; and it is the object of my invention to provide a game of this character which shall require more skill and ingenuity on the part of the player than heretofore and which shall be sufficiently intricate and fascinating to entertain and hold the attention of adults as well as youths.

The details of construction of my invention and the manner of playing the game will be pointed out in the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention, and the latter will be more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the'game-board. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 4 4, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a top plan View of the drawer or receptacle for the balls. Fig. 6 represents one of the cues. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the adjustable legs. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of the cue-box, showing the door in locked position. Figs. 9, l0, and Il show the deflector respectively in end and side elevation and in top plan.

I will rst describe the mechanical construction of the apparatus by means of which the game is played, and thereafter I will describe the manner of playing the game.

The game apparatus may be arranged for a stationary table of considerable proportions somewhat after the manner of a billiard-table, or, if preferred, it may be' made portable and of smaller area to be placed on any convenient table or other support. I haveherein shown the latter construction as the preferred embodiment of my invention.

The board A is bounded on three sides by a rail d, serving to confine the balls b on the board under normal conditions. This board is perfectly plane or level and has at the playing end or right-hand end in the drawings two lines a' a2, extending across the table transversely of its length, while at the opposite end of the table I provide a series of pins a3, arranged in staggered series and occupying the greater part of the width of the table, these pins projecting upwardly as guards or obstructions, rendering difficult access tothe holes or pitfalls a4, leading through the board to a box or receptacle C, supported on the under side of the board or table. The holes a4 are herein shown as comprising an advance row of four in number and a second row parallel thereto and five in number, while behind the latter are three openings, one at either corner of the board and one in the middle. The latter three holes connect by means of inclined ways or chutes a5 a6 with the box C, this box being provided with six compartments, as herein shown, the compartments c receiving the balls from the chutes a5, the

compartment c receiving the balls from the middle holes of the second and third rows, the compartments c2 from the remaining holes of the second row, and the compartment o3 receiving the balls from the front row of holes a4. This drawer is preferably removable from the board, at either side thereof, as indicated, and padded at c4 to receive the balls noiselessly. The pins a3 are also preferably removable, their form being clearly shown in full lines in Fig. 4 and indicated by dotted lines in Fig. '2, from which it will be seen that they have their lower ends reduced at a7 to enter sockets therefor in' the board- A and are provided with shoulders d8 to give them steadiness and hold them precisely as desired in the board.

The farther or left-hand end of the board or table A is curved, as indicated at a9, in order to deflect the balls as they strike the same.

A further feature of the invention is shown in Figs. 9, 10, and ll, consisting of a movable IOO deflector D of peculiar shape and made of metal or other heavy material, which may, if desired, be covered with cloth or'leather and which is designed to be moved here and there, as required by the skill of the operator, between the line a2 and the front row of pegs in order to enable the operator to make skilled shots according to the exigencies of the case. This deflector has rounded ends d, one straight vertical side d', and an opposite beveled orin` clined side d2, (shown in end elevation in Fig.-

9,) and contains, preferably, spirit-levels d3.

If a player wishes to jump a ball which is` in the path of his desired shot, he 'simply' caused to jump over one or more of the pegs which may prevent its access to a hole, and if the driven ball be caused to strike against said inclined or beveled surface at an oblique angle thereto it may be caused to jump in a curved direction and to such a length as may be desired, the curve and distance depending upon the force and skill With which the ball is driven; also, the curved ends d coperate with said beveled surface to great advantage according to the sk ill of the player. Iam aware that a defiecting-block has been proposed in the patent granted to Davey, No. 450,883, dated April 21, 1891, and I disclaim the same, said block being triangular in shape with ilat vertical sides. The advantage of the curved ends d of my deflector over the flat ends or sides of Daveys device is that when the block of Davey is set by the operator the ball will be deiiected therebyin substantially the same direction even though the operator does not hit Daveys deflecting-block at precisely the point desired, this being so for the reason that the entire side of Daveys block being straight extends in the same general direction and angle relatively to the point from which he might shoot, and therefore the shooting itself would require comparatively little skill, whereas in my device the ends being round at b it follows that the player' must hit the precise point aimed at if he wishes his ball to be deflected in a given direction, because if he hits any other point the curved end will deilect theball in an entirely different direction,'inasmuch as the curvature decidedly changes the Obliquity at every point. The table or board may be made of wood or any other preferred material" and may be covered with billiard-cloth, leather, or other fabric, if desired, and the rail may be entirely rigid or slightly resilient.

The game is played with cues E, Fig. G,

which when not in use are stored in a box or case E beneath the table. (Shown in bottom plan in Fig. 3 and in fragmentary section in Fig. 8.) From the latter figure it will be seen that this receptacle is provided with a door e, hinged at e' and provided with a spring lock or catch e2 for conveniently locking the cues within the case. In this game it is essential that the table or board should be perfectly horizontal, and accordingly I have provided adjusting devices, herein shown as at the lower ends of the legs d10 and shown in detail in Fig. 7, where it will be seen that the legs have threaded ends or ferrules a, receiving correspondingly-threaded cups or sockets @12, each of Whichvis milled for turning and has at its under side a rubber button or stud als to prevent lateral shifting of the board on the supporting-table.

When theboard is set up for playing, the deiiector is placed thereon in different positions and the legs are adjusted in height until the spirit-levels cl3 show that the board A is in perfect horizontal alinement.

Each ball will be given a proper color or other distinguishing-mark and will also be given a number or value, preferably marked thereon in iigures,as herein indicated. Also the various apertures or holes a4 will be given a value--as, for instance, the advance series or front row of holes will be marked 10, the second row l5, except the center hole,which may be 25 to correspond to central rear hole, and the compartments in the box C `will also be plainly marked with values corresponding to the holes registering therewith.

In playing this game according to my invention the players will strike their balls from in front of the line a', and no ball will be played excepting from this position. If a ball should be driven from the table by jumpin g over arail or otherwise or should rebound over the line a2, it will not be used again during that set. Each ball entering the compartment ccounts a forfeit to the player, and, as will be perceived, the pegs do not seriously obstruct access to the corner-holes leading to these compartments, and therefore it is much easier to get a forfeit than to get a proiit, it being understood that all the other compart ments and holes count profits.

In each case the value of the hole and the value of the particular ball played are added together in orderto ascertain the profit, although the amount of forfeit may be reckoned by the value of the balls only.

The deflector is not to be used excepting between the first row of pegs and theline a2. Its use enables the skilled player to drive his ball in practically any direction desired, and it also enables `him to drive an opponents ball with loss to his opponent, itbeing understood that while a player has no right to drive his `opponents ball with his cue, yet he may hit it with his own ball, and thereby drive `it with such skill as may be possible.

At the end of the game the count may be IOO IIO

verified to each player by means of the balls in the various compartments of the box C, each player being enabled to recognize his own balls by their color or other distinguishing-mark, and the balls themselves having their own individual value to be added to that of the compartment and the combined values of the forfeit-compartments bein gsubtracted from those of the profit-compartments.

I am aware that it is not new to provide a game-board over which balls are played with holes through which the balls may drop, nor is it new to provide a board with pegs alone; but I am not aware that a gaine or game apparatus has ever been heretofore invented combining these features as herein shown and described, much less combining these and the various other features which together constitute the preferred embodiment of my invention in its complete form.

W'hile I have herein described my invention in all its various details, I do not intend to limit myself precisely thereto, inasmuch as various changes and modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. A game apparatus comprising an oblong, level board or table having a peripheral rail around the greater part thereof, balls to be moved on said table, said table having a clear space for the greater part of its length from one end, a plurality of holes through the table adjacent the opposite end thereof, compartments below the table to receive the balls through said holes, and a plurality of pegs in front of said holes, rendering access thereto difficult, and adjacent the opposite or clear end of the table two separate transverse lines or demarcations, substantially as described.

2. A game apparatus comprising an oblong, level board or table having a peripheral rail, balls to be played on said table, a plurality of holes through the table and extending across the same in a series adjacent one end thereof, a second series of holes through the table parallel to and in staggered order relatively to said first series of holes, and other holes at the corners of the table immediately behind said second series of holes, pegs projecting from the table in series in front of said first series of holes and between said first and second series of holes, said pegs being arranged in staggered position, said pegs and holes being confined to one end of the board or table, and compartments beneath the table to receive thc balls through said holes, substantially as described.

3. A game apparatus comprising a board or table curved at one end and having a peripheral rail, balls to be played on said table, holes through the table at said curved end, a plurality of transverse series of holes through the table adjacent and in front of said curved end, a plurality of obstructing-pegs in front of said series of holes, said holes and pegs being confined to the curved end of the board, compartments beneath the table for receiving the balls through said holes, each compartment and hole being designated with a fixed value, and transverse lines or demarcations at the opposite end of the table, substantially as described.

4. A game apparatus comprising a level board or table curved at one end and having a peripheral rail, balls to be played on said table, each ball being designated with an individual value, holes through the table at said curved end, a plurality of transverse series of holes through the table adjacent and in front of said curved end, a plurality of obstructingpegs in front of and interspersed among said series of holes, compartments beneath the table for receiving the balls through said holes, each compartment and hole being designated with a fixed value, and transverse lines or demarcations at the opposite end of the table, the latter end being unobstructed and the pegs and holes being confined to the said curved end of the table, substantially as describbd.

5. A game apparatus comprising a board or table curved at one end and having a peripheral rail, balls to be played on said table, holes through the table at said curved end, a plurality of transverse series of holes through the table slightly removed from and in front of said curved end, a plurality of obstructingpegs in front of and interspersed among said series of holes, compartments beneath the table for receiving the balls through said holes, each compartment and hole being designated with a fixed value, and transverse lines or demarcations at the opposite end of the table, and a movable defiector in the form of a weighted block arranged to be moved about on the table between said lines and said pegs, said block having straight and curved sides, one of said sides being beveled from bottom to top for deflecting a ball in different directions, substantially as described.

6. A game apparatus comprising a board or table and having a peripheral rail, balls to be played on said table, cues for driving said balls, holes through the table at one end thereof, a plurality of transverse series of holes through the table adjacent and in front of said first-,mentioned holes, a plurality of obstructing-pegs in front of and interspersed among said series of holes, removable compartments beneath the table for receiving the balls through said holes, a cue-box secured beneath the table for receiving said cues, said box having a hinged door at one end and an automatic latch for closing said door, substantially as described.

7. In a game apparatus, a board or table, legs supporting said table, balls to be played on said table, pegs and holes to coperate with said balls,a movable deector-bloclr,weighted and having variously-shaped sides to deflect the balls, spirit-levels in said block, said legs IOO IIO

having externally-threaded ferrules at their lower ends, and interiorly-threaded sockets.

mounted thereon, said sockets having central buttons or studs to engage a su pport, sub- 5 stantially as described.

8. In zt game apparatus, a deflector-block, said block bein g weighted and having curved ends, one Vertical side, and :Ln opposite side beveled from top to bottom, whereby :L ball maybe deflected in Various directions as de- Io sred, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES II. BOVIE.

Witnesses:

OSCAR A. Bowm, C. E. BAILEY. 

